{"id":4865,"date":"2025-09-23T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=4865"},"modified":"2025-09-23T14:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:00:07","slug":"jimmy-kimmels-comeback-blows-up-major-abc-affiliate-refuses-to-air-his-show-what-was-supposed-to-be-jimmy-kimmels-triumphant-return-has-already-gone-off-the-rails-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=4865","title":{"rendered":"JIMMY KIMMEL\u2019S COMEBACK BLOWS UP \u2014 MAJOR ABC AFFILIATE REFUSES TO AIR HIS SHOW.  What was supposed to be Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s triumphant return has already gone off the rails. Hours after Disney announced his comeback, a major ABC affiliate dropped a bombshell: they will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! \u2014 bowing to fierce backlash after MAGA outrage exploded against Disney.  The affiliate\u2019s move stunned insiders and sparked new chaos across the network. Was this just one local station caving to pressure, or the first domino in a bigger collapse?Full story below \u2014 including the behind-the-scenes panic Disney never wanted you to see \ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"featured-image page-header-image-single grid-container grid-parent\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Frame-Thumb-7-7.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Frame-Thumb-7-7.jpg 650w, https:\/\/litaupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Frame-Thumb-7-7-300x162.jpg 300w\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"351\" \/><\/div>\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\">What was supposed to be Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s triumphant return has already gone off the rails. Hours after Disney announced his comeback, a major ABC affiliate dropped a bombshell: they will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! \u2014 bowing to fierce backlash after MAGA outrage exploded against Disney. The affiliate\u2019s move stunned insiders and sparked new chaos across the network. Was this just one local station caving to pressure, or the first domino in a bigger collapse?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"entry-meta\"><span class=\"posted-on\"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-09-23T10:23:39+07:00\">23\/09\/2025<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">comeback to late night<\/span>\u00a0has been dealt a massive blow with ABC affiliates refusing to air it in nearly 40 major markets after Disney announced the liberal talk host will return Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sinclair Inc., whose local stations pay to run ABC\u2019s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is standing by its policy from last week\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">that it would keep the show off the air indefinitely<\/span>, though the two sides were in talks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show\u2019s potential return,\u2019 the company said. A preemption is when the owners of an affiliate replace national programming with their own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It came as people across the political spectrum reacted to Kimmel\u2019s return, with MAGA raging and Kirk\u2019s former co-host Andrew Kolvet writing: \u2018Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmell back on the air is not surprising, but it\u2019s their mistake to make. Nextstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The biggest affiliate Sinclair owns is WJLA in Washington, meaning Donald Trump and the nation\u2019s other major power players who have watched on with interest in this saga won\u2019t be able to watch.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-5\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sinclair had previously said it will refuse to lift the suspension of Kimmel\u2019s show on its stations \u2018until formal discussions are held with ABC\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">regarding the network\u2019s commitment to professionalism and accountability<\/span>.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The broadcaster also called on Kimmel to issue a \u2018direct apology to the Kirk family\u2019 and to make a \u2018meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.\u2019 TPUSA is a conservative college campus group founded by Kirk, with Kimmel a well-known liberal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-6\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-6f95cf85ef5b01cb\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/01\/102363343-15124189-image-a-17_1758586858674.jpg\" alt=\"Jimmy Kimmel's comeback to late night was dealt a massive blow as the show won't be aired in nearly 40 major markets after Disney announced the liberal talk host will return Tuesday\" width=\"634\" height=\"793\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s comeback to late night was dealt a massive blow as the show won\u2019t be aired in nearly 40 major markets after Disney announced the liberal talk host will return Tuesday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-989dc45e3d829a6a\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/01\/102363349-15124189-image-a-18_1758586873087.jpg\" alt=\"Sinclair Inc., whose local stations pay to run ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is standing by its policy from last week that it would keep the show off the air indefinitely , though the two sides were in talks\" width=\"634\" height=\"423\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Sinclair Inc., whose local stations pay to run ABC\u2019s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is standing by its policy from last week that it would keep the show off the air indefinitely , though the two sides were in talks<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Mr. Kimmel\u2019s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,\u2019 Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith said in the announcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Reaction largely went across partisan lines as the news made it out of Kimmel\u2019s comeback Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In MAGA circles, the move was largely derided, with Megyn Kelly writing: \u2018Must be nice to be a leftist. \u2018Cancellation\u2019 lasts 5 nights and you\u2019re right back under klieg lights. On the right you\u2019re underground.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Conservative commentator Matt Walsh slammed liberal hypocrisy: \u2018Kimmel\u2019s show was put on pause for like 3 days and yet leftists will look us dead in the eyes and tell us that this was a greater attack on free speech than shooting and killing Charlie Kirk.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Scott Jennings of CNN honed in on how the FCC wasn\u2019t mentioned in Disney\u2019s explanation for initially suspending Kimmel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018So basically his employer suspended him for being an insensitive prick, and we don\u2019t live in an authoritarian regime? Got it,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Liberals, on the other hand, were in a celebratory mood, with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett shouting it was a \u2018WIN\u2019 to get the host back while also suggesting Trump was senile.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-aaa6654820b32657\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/02\/102363099-15124189-image-a-26_1758590386991.jpg\" alt=\"It came as people across the political spectrum reacted to Kimmel's return, with MAGA raging, including Kirk's former co-host Andrew Kolvet\" width=\"634\" height=\"269\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">It came as people across the political spectrum reacted to Kimmel\u2019s return, with MAGA raging, including Kirk\u2019s former co-host Andrew Kolvet<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group mol-hidden-caption\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-f3189f30bd3ab9e2\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/02\/102363103-15124189-image-a-25_1758590383869.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"634\" height=\"302\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group mol-hidden-caption\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-78669eebc7cea029\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/02\/102363105-15124189-image-a-24_1758590382114.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"634\" height=\"596\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Zohran Mamdani, the socialist who won the Democrat nomination for Mayor of New York City, had cancelled a town hall with the ABC affiliate in New York over the suspension.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Last week, Disney\/ABC caved to Trump administration pressure. Millions of Americans helped them find their backbone. Whether you watch Jimmy Kimmel or not, today\u2019s decision is a victory for free speech,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Mamdani added that his team have reached out to the affiliate \u2013 which is not owned by Sinclair \u2013 to get the town hall up and running again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">California Governor Gavin Newsom used the news to take a shot at FCC head Brendan Carr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Thank you to everyone but @BrendanCarrFCC. This is a win for free speech everywhere.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Libertarian journalist Billy Binion noted what conservatives had created from protesting Kimmel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Brendan Carr turned Jimmy Kimmel into a martyr. His ratings were sinking. Now a lot of people are talking about &amp; rooting for a comic whom they previously did not care about at all. Great job,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">Jimmy Kimmel<\/span>\u00a0Live!\u00a0will be back on the air on Tuesday night, less than a week after his suspension for controversial comments about the killing of\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">Charlie Kirk<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In a statement, ABC parent company Disney said it would \u2018return the show on Tuesday\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Kimmel had been suspended since Wednesday, after the host said that \u2018the MAGA gang\u2019 was\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">attempting to portray the suspect in Kirk\u2019s assassination \u2018as anything other than one of them<\/span>\u2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,\u2019 Disney\u2019s statement said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">No further details were provided.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Kimmel\u2019s controversial comments occurred on his show last Monday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-46ae854eeabd1b\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/01\/102363339-15124189-image-a-19_1758586875565.jpg\" alt=\"The move will be a further headache to Disney CEO Bob Iger (pictured) after he dealt with liberal backlash to the move over the weekend\" width=\"634\" height=\"951\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The move will be a further headache to Disney CEO Bob Iger (pictured) after he dealt with liberal backlash to the move over the weekend<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group mol-hidden-caption\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-3790e86195aea6d2\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/23\/01\/102363097-15124189-image-a-16_1758586823719.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"634\" height=\"625\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d201bca6c0f79da8\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/22\/20\/102358125-15123581-image-a-8_1758570495285.jpg\" alt=\"The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, said they'll 'return the show on Tuesday'\" width=\"634\" height=\"253\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, said they\u2019ll \u2018return the show on Tuesday\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-89f70f6b91ad3ce9\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/22\/21\/102359149-15123581-image-m-22_1758574188956.jpg\" alt=\"Kirk, who was 31 when he was killed, is survived by his wife Erika, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months, seen here\" width=\"634\" height=\"454\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"viewGalleryText-NXaet\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Kirk, who was 31 when he was killed, is survived by his wife Erika, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months, seen here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving on Friday. The White House flew the flags at half-staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Kimmel then played a clip of Trump responding to a question about how he was coping with Kirk\u2019s death, before poking fun at the president\u2019s mourning process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He was reprimanded just two days later for his comments by FCC boss Brendan Carr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson he was considering an investigation into Kimmel and ABC over his remarks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Within hours, more than a dozen ABC affiliates told the network and Disney it would not be airing Kimmel\u2019s show until the remarks were addressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Disney and senior ABC execs then\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">made the call to pull Kimmel\u2019s show \u2018indefinitely\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The two parties had been engaged in talks since, in hopes of finding a way to get the show back on the air.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-53a123190b34c8da\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/09\/22\/21\/102228101-15123581-Jimmy_Kimmel_pictured_at_the_Emmy_Awards_in_Los_Angeles_with_his-a-17_1758573884211.jpg\" alt=\"It remains unclear whether Kimmel - seen here with wife Molly McNearney at the Emmys earlier this month - will address or apologize for his comments when he returns to air\" width=\"634\" height=\"892\" data-gallery-handler-attached=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">It remains unclear whether Kimmel \u2013 seen here with wife Molly McNearney at the Emmys earlier this month \u2013 will address or apologize for his comments when he returns to air<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Carr, during his conversation with Johnson, framed an apology \u2018as a very reasonable, minimal step that can be taken\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">No such plans were detailed in Disney\u2019s statement Monday. It remains unclear whether Kimmel will address his comments directly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Disney co-chairman Dana Walden and chief executive Bob Iger made the call to suspend the host over his on-air comments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Suspect Tyler Robinson, meanwhile, has been charged with capital murder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Prosecutors released a slew of text messages and other evidence that appeared to hint at a motive last week<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In a text to his transgender partner shortly after the murder, Robinson allegedly\u00a0<span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\">said of Kirk: \u2018I had enough of his hatred.<\/span>\u00a0Some hate can\u2019t be negotiated out.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In another, he discussed how his father \u2018has been pretty die-hard MAGA\u2019 since Trump had been re-elected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said the suspect\u2019s ideology \u2018was very different than his family\u2019, and that his motivation was rooted in radicalization.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What was supposed to be Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s triumphant return has already gone off the rails. Hours after Disney announced his comeback, a major ABC affiliate dropped a&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4866,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4865"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4867,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4865\/revisions\/4867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}